The recently released National Security and Defence Review Report has highlighted that Fiji’s National Security & Defence Council currently lacks a legislative or constitutional foundation.
The report, unveiled by the Minister for Home Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua, emphasizes that any decisions made by the National Security & Defence Council (NSDC) must be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
“The NSDC needs a formal legal framework to operate effectively. Additionally, it requires a properly funded Secretariat, which can be provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs utilizing its own resources. The establishment of a Secretaries Committee on National Security will also enhance the role and responsibilities of the NSDC,” the report states.
The NSDC is made up of the Prime Minister, the Minister for Home Affairs, the Attorney-General, and the Minister for Finance. The Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs acts as the secretary, while the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the Commissioner of Police are permanent members of the Council.
In Fiji’s Republican framework, the President holds executive authority but acts on the Prime Minister’s advice. The Prime Minister carries out the primary executive functions of the government, including matters of national security, through collaborative decision-making within the Cabinet. Unlike other Westminster-style governments, Fiji’s Cabinet structure is explicitly defined in the 2013 Constitution.